Salmon exports dip in November

November’s salmon exports were worth NOK 3.9 billion, which is a reduction of 2 per cent compared with November 2013. Year to date salmon exports have totalled NOK 39.6 billion – 12 per cent more than the same period in 2013, according to data from the Norwegian Seafood Council.

”The reduction in the value of exports in November is due to slightly lower fishing volumes than last year. Despite the continuing Russian import ban, demand for Norwegian salmon remains very good, and the growth we´ve seen in recent weeks demonstrates this,” says Bjørn-Erik Stabell, Marketing Manager for Salmon at the Norwegian Seafood Council.

88,077 tonnes of salmon were exported in November. This is a reduction of 9 per cent, or 8,300 tonnes, compared with November 2013. Year to date salmon exports total 910,500 tonnes. This is 5 per cent higher than the same period last year.

The export price for fresh whole salmon in November was NOK 41.12 per kg. This is 6 per cent higher than the same month in 2013. Average salmon prices in November were 16 per cent higher than the previous month of October.

Norwegian salmon exports to the EU were almost NOK 2.9 billion in November. This represents an increase of 12 per cent from the same month last year, largely due to the Russian import ban leading to a higher proportion of Norwegian salmon being exported to the UK, Spain and Italy. Export volume, measured by product weight was 68,000 tonnes, an increase of 6 per cent. Poland and France were the biggest buyers of Norwegian salmon in November.

Salmon exports to Eastern Europe totalled NOK 155 million in November. This is a decrease of 73 per cent compared to November 2013. Volumes are also sharply decreased by 72 per cent, to a new total of 4,200 tonnes. The decline is mainly due to the Russian import ban and reduced supply to the Ukrainian market.

Salmon exports to Asia totalled NOK 574 million in November – an increase of 3 per cent compared with November 2013. Measured by volume, this is a reduction of 700 tonnes from November 2013, reaching a new total of 12,100 tonnes.

Trout exports in November reached NOK 176 million - down 29 per cent from November 2013. Exported volumes were 3960 tonnes, which is some 1700 tonnes less than a year earlier. The biggest buyers of Norwegian trout were Belarus and China. Year to date trout exports totalled NOK 2.2 billion. This is an increase of NOK 54 million, or 3 per cent, compared with the same period in 2013.